Container handling apparatus



March 21, 1967 J. w. DE'MPSTER ETAL 3,310,183

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1i 3 A f E MM & i

ATTOR NEY5 NVENTORS arch 1967 J. w. DEMFSTER ETAL 3,31

CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS March 21, 1967 J. w. DEMPS'TER ETAL J CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 10. 1964 I N VENTORS J/VME maf/vmnsg [III P.

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CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1 964 5 Sheets-Sheet l I I i Q l i INVENTOR5 BY M M, W AM W;-

ATTORNEYS arch 1967 J. w. DEMPSTER ETAL 333M 18 CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1964 5 Sheets-Shet .5

. INVENTORS ATTORNE% United States Patent 3,310,188 CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS James W. Dempster, Thomas J. Huey, In, and Steven C. Voorhees, Knoxville, Tenn., assignors to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,236 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-516) This invention relates to improvements in container handling apparatus and, more particularly, to means connected with the container to be engaged by transferring apparatus.

It has been proposed heretofore to transfer a container for lading between a motor vehicle anda railroad car by a lateral shifting action through interengaged and step-by-step means on the container and on the vehicle that would impart the rapid and desired transfer movements to the container. As constructed heretofore, the transfer engaging means on the container has been built as a permanent part of the container. This has made it impossible to utilize containers that are in existence and it has also prevented the separation and removal of the transfer engaging means from one container to another so as to enable it to be used on different containers.

One object of the invention is to overcome these objections and to provide for detachable transfer engaging means on the container that will permit of separation and removal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of transfer engaging means for a container to enable it to be applied to or separated from the container, as desired, or to be used on diflerent containers.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by providing a hook bar assembly having means for detachable engagement successively at different points by transfer means, with clamping devices on the assembly constructed to permit of detachable engagement of the hook bar assembly to a container for separation and removal therefrom. The hook bar assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced side members adapted to extend transversely of the container underneath the bottom thereof. The side members are interconnected by transversely extending pins forming respectively several different hook stations in positions to be engaged by the transfer means to move the container step-by-step with respect to the vehicle and car.

At the opposite ends of the hook bar assembly, clamp members are detachably connected and provision is made for one or both of the clamp members to be adjustably secured in clamping relation to the container so as to secure the hook bar assembly thereto.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a car and vehicle in position for transfer;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a vehicle having a container in supported position thereon;

FIG. 3 is a cross section through a portion of the container, with the hook bar assembly detachably secured thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the hook bar assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a detail longitudinal section on the line 6-6 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 7 is a cross section through a portion of the assembly on the line 7-7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a disassembled perspective view of the parts of the assembly;

FIG. 9 is a partial end elevation thereof; and

3,3 10,188 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 "ice FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the assembly applied to a container.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a motor vehicle chassis is indicated generally at 1, while a railway car is shown generally at 2. The transfer mechanism is capable of shifting a container 3 transversely between the motor vehicle 1 and the railway car 2.

Each of the vehicle chassis 1 and the railway car 2 is provided with aligned bolsters 4 and 5', respectively, capable of receiving the container 3 in its shifted action from one to the other. It is preferred to use as the transfer means hook means, generally indicated at 6 in FIG. 1, which may be operated as described more in detail in our prior application, Ser. No. 339,538, filed Jan. 22, 1964, now Patent No. 3,254,875. This transfer means usually employs hook devices mounted on the vehicle for back and forth shifting movements with respect thereto for engaging successively with different portions of the container provided by a hook bar assembly on the container.

Referring to FIG. 3, the container 3 has surrounding side walls 7 and a floor 8. A supporting frame 9 is provided as a structural part of the container and, in this instance, is disposed beneath the floor 8, although it may be above the latter, if desired. Any suitable brace means may be used for the purpose.

A hook bar assembly is provided at a desired point on the container 7, as indicated generally at 10, and is shown in FIGS. 4 to 9. Usually, two such hook bars are provided for a container, spaced apart lengthwise thereof, capable of detachable engagement by the cantilever-type hook means, generally indicated at 6 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hook bar assembly 10 comprises a pair of laterally spaced side members 11 of a length preferably such as to extend throughout the width of the container 3 underneath the latter. These members 11 are connected together at their opposite ends by plates 12 and have interposed deflector plates 13 (see FIG. 6). These deflector plates 13 may be formed integral with the connecting bars 12 and have upturned inner edge portions 14 extending obliquely for a distance along the side members 11 for deflecting thereunder the cantilever hook members 6.

Intermediate their ends, the side members 11 are provided with interposed hook stations, each of which is shown in this embodiment as formed of a hook member or pin 15, which may be tubular, if desired. This pin 15 extends transversely through both side members 11 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto in rigid relation. At the points where the pins 15 extend through the opposite sides of the side members 11, reinforcing plates 16 may be used, if desired. Crossbearers 17 to bear against floor crossmembers of the container 3, as shown in FIG. 10, project outwardly from the opposite ends of the endrnost cross pins 15.

At one end of the detachable hook bar assembly 10, the side members 11 are provided with sockets 18 disposed substantially in alignment with the side members 11. A removable clamp assembly is shown at 19 having a clamping plate 20 adapted to abut against and extend along the container frame 9. The clamping plate 20 extends in bridging relation between a pair of legs 21 of a size adapted to be inserted in the sockets 18 and spaced apart so as to be aligned therewith.

Bracing plates are provided at 22 for reinforcing this clamp assembly 19. The removable clamp assembly 19 may be held in place with respect to the side members 11 by a locking pin 23 extending through aligned holes in the sockets 18 and the legs 21, as shown particularly in FIG. 5.

At the opposite end of the side members 11, an adjustable clamp assembly 24 is provided for bearing relation against the opposite side of the container frame 9 opposed to the clamp assembly 19. The clamp assembly 24 comprises a bearing plate 25 so arranged as to extend transversely of the hook bar assembly and to bear frictionally against the outer side of the frame 9. The clamp assembly 24 is a box construction, generally indicated at 26, notched out at the bottom at 27 (see FIG. 5) so as to receive therein upright posts 23 secured on the ends of the side members 11. The adjustable clamp assembly 24 fits over these posts in the relation generally shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, but is capable of being shifted lengthwise of the hook bar assembly for clamping action with respect to the container.

This clamping action is accomplished by adjusting screws 29 threaded through nuts 30 secured as by welding within the respective posts 28. The inner ends of the screws 29 abut against the inner face of the bearing plate 25 on the boxing 26. At their outer ends the screws 29 are provided with handles 31 which may be turned by handor, if turning of the clamping bolts manually should be diflicult, a short length of pipe may be fitted over the handles 31 to facilitate the turning thereof.

Each of the clamp assemblies is detachable from the hook bar assembly and initially may be handled separately therefrom. In order to install the hook bar assembly at a desired point on a container, the clamping bolts 29 should be unscrewed or backed out until the boxing 26 comes to rest against the upright posts 28.

With the removable clamp assembly 19 out of the hook bar assembly, the latter may be inserted underneath the container and raised to the required location, preferably in such position as to be aligned vertically with the transfer cantilever hook means, generally indicated at 6. Then the removable clamp assembly 19 is replaced by inserting the legs 21 into the sockets 18 and securing these parts together by the locking pin 23.

The adjustable clamp assembly 24 is then brought into proper relation to the frame 9 of the container so as to be directly opposed to the removable clamp assembly 19. The adjustable clamp assembly 24 is held in that relation while the clamping bolts 29 are turned to force the clamping plate 25 securely in abutting relation against the frame 9 of the container. These bolts 29 should be tightened securely to prevent any slippage of the hook bar assembly during the transfer operation.

It will be evident that the hook bar assembly can be removed from the container either for shifting it to another position thereon or for application to another container, merely by reversing the procedure described. The assemblies 19 and 24 are detachable from the hook bar assembly 10 to facilitate the application and for ease of handling.

The use of the hook bar assembly will be evident from the foregoing explanation. The back and forth operation of the transfer means will move the hook devices 6 underneath the container in the manner set forth in the aforementioned application and will move these hook devices to engage the cross pins successively to move the container step-by-step transversely between positions on the vehicle and car. In this way, the'containers can be shifted by power and without requiring manual engagement or disengagement thereof.

While the invention has been illustrated in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A container for use with handling apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a frame structure supporting said receptacle thereon, a hook bar assembly having means for detachable connection with said handling apparatus, said hook bar assembly extending transversely of the frame structure in embracing relation with the frame structure, and means for clamping the hook bar assembly to the frame structure.

2. A container for use with handling apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a frame structure supporting said receptacle thereon, a hook bar assembly having means for detachable connection with said handling apparatus, said hook bar assembly extending transversely of the frame structure in embracing relation with the frame structure, clamping assemblies connected with opposite end portions of the hook bar assembly and embracing the frame structure therebetween.

3. A container for use with handling apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a frame structure supporting said receptacle thereon, a hook bar assembly having means for detachable connection with said handling apparatus, said hook bar assembly extending transversely of the frame structure in embracing relation with the frame structure, clamping assemblies connected with opposite end portions of the hook bar assembly and embracing the frame structure therebetween, and means connected with one of the clamping assemblies for imparting clamping movement to one of the clamping assemblies toward and from the other.

4. A container for use with handling apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a frame structure supporting said receptacle thereon, a hook bar assembly having means for detachable connection with said handling apparatus, said hook bar assembly extending transversely of the frame structure beneath the container in embracing relation with the frame structure, clamping assemblies detachably connected with opposite end portions of the hook bar assembly and embracing the container frame structure, and means connected with one of the clamping assemblies for imparting clamping movement to one of the clamping assemblies toward and from the other.

5. A hook bar assembly adapted to be connected with a container comprising a pair of side members spaced apart, pins extending between the side members at longitudinally spaced points, sockets on one end of the side members, a clamping assembly including legs detachably inserted in the sockets, a clamping plate extending in bridging relation between the legs in position to abut against a portion of a container, and means for clamping said assembly to the container.

6. A hook bar assembly adapted to be connected with a container comprising a pair of side members spaced apart, pins extending between the side members at longitudinally spaced points, means at one end of the side members for abutting the container, a clamping plate at the opposite end of the side members for abutting the container, a pair of tubular posts secured to the side members, a head assembly supporting the clamping plate and detachably engaging the upright posts and extending in bridging relation therebetween, and adjustable screw fastenings connecting the head assembly with the respective upright posts.

7. A book bar assembly adapted to be connected with a container, comprising a pair of side members spaced apart, pins extending between the side members at longitudinally spaced points, sockets connected with the side members at one end thereof, upright legs detachably mounted in the sockets, a clamping plate extending in bridging relation between the legs and secured thereto in position to abut against a side of a container, upright posts connected with the side members at the opposite end thereof, a head assembly extending in bridging relation between the upright posts and having a clamping plate thereon, and adjustable screw fastenings having threaded connections with the upright posts and extending in bearing relation with the head assembly for applying clamping action to the container between the respective clamping plates.

8. In vehicle body loading and unloading mechanism having supporting means slidably receiving a container and hook means movable relative to the vehicle for selectively moving the container, said container comprising a body having a supporting frame structure, a hook bar assembly extending underneath the container and under neath the supporting frame structure, said hook bar assembly having cross pins in position for engagement by the container moving means to move the container relative to the vehicle, means on the hook bar assembly in embracing relation With the container frame structure, and clamping assemblies mounted on the embracing means and one movable toward and from the other.

9. In vehicle body loading and unloading mechanism having supporting means slidably receiving a container and hook means movable relative to the vehicle for selectively moving the container, said container comprising a body having a supporting frame structure, a hook bar assembly extending underneath the container and underneath the supporting frame structure, :said hook bar assembly having cross pins in position for engagement by the container moving means to move the container relative to the vehicle, sockets at opposite ends of the hook bar as- 6 sembly, upright posts mounted in the sockets, a head assembly extending transversely of each upright post, and adjustable screw fastenings having threaded connections with the upright posts and extending in bearing relation with the head assembly for applying clamping action on the container frame structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,034 11/ 1905 Snodgrass. 2,166,134 7/1939 Fitch 21438 X 3,107,020 10/1963 Dempster et a1. 214516 X 3,194,422 7/ 1965 Shinn 29467 X GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER FOR USE WITH HANDLING APPARATUS, COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE HAVING A FRAME STRUCTURE SUPPORTING SAID RECEPTACLE THEREON, A HOOK BAR ASSEMBLY HAVING MEANS FOR DETACHABLE CONNECTION WITH SAID HANDLING APPARATUS, SAID HOOK BAR ASSEMBLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE FRAME STRUCTURE IN EMBRACING RELATION WITH THE FRAME STRUCTURE, AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE HOOK BAR ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME STRUCTURE. 